Compiled for the LCLD Board of Directors every Wednesday, this digest is designed to brief you on the latest headlines about LCLD Members and organizations, as well as thought-provoking articles on diversity in the legal profession, talent development, mentoring, and leadership. Past issues of the Digest are also archived on the LCLD web site.

If you have questions about the Digest, articles you'd like to share, of if you would like to subscribe, please email Communications Specialist Caitlin Puffenberger at cpuffenberger@lcldnet.com


1. WATCH: Alan Braverman Receives 2018 Spirit of Excellence Award 

ABA News, 2/3/18

“I’m here because someone early in my career looked past the traditional pedigree screen, saw something in me, and gave me a chance. I think others deserve that same opportunity,” said Alan Braverman, LCLD Board Member and General Counsel of The Walt Disney Company, on receiving the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity’s Spirit of Excellence Award.

2. ABA Takes Timely Stand on Sex Harassment

ABA Journal, 2/5/18

Announced this week by Stephanie Scharf, LCLD Member and Chair of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, a new resolution from the ABA provides suggestions on how employers can address and prevent sexual harassment. 

3. “That’s What Inclusion Is All About”

Quarles & Brady, 2/6/18

“Inclusion is how you actively make the most of the diversity at the table, which you can’t do unless you’re willing to put majority culture aside a little bit and be receptive to others,” said LCLD Member Sharon Barner, General Counsel of Cummins in an interview with fellow LCLD Member Kimberly Johnson, Chair of Quarles & Brady

4. OpEd: #MeToo Has Done What the Law Could Not

The New York Times, 2/4/18

“If the same cultural inequities are permitted to operate in laws as in the behavior the law prohibits, equalizing attempts—such as sexual harassment law—will be systemically resisted,” writes law professor Catharine MacKinnon. 

5. In Hindsight, 20/20 Diversity is Too Low for Asian-American GCs

The American Lawyer, 2/2/18

Don Liu, LCLD Member and General Counsel of Target, and Linda Lu, 2013 Fellow and Chief Litigation Counsel at Nationwide, say Asian-American representation among both corporate and law firm leadership still needs to improve. 

6. What the Data on Women Laterals Can Teach Us About Retention

The American Lawyer, 1/28/18

“There’s enormous partner talent to be harnessed by getting past antiquated ideas that women partners can’t perform or don’t want to have high-powered careers, and instead focusing on how to mitigate the perceived risk of not progressing professionally early in their partner careers,” write researchers Hugh Simons and Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio.